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Tools and Jigs
Lego Mini Bench

Lego Mini Bench

This little bench-raiser is  great for your back - and good for your eyes! I recently heard from my Colleague Noémie Viaud  about an adjustable height bench that she loves.  I wanted one but before going to the expense and trouble of ordering one  (her's  a...

Occam’s Jig, Take Two

Occam’s Jig, Take Two

Incredibly Occam's scroll holding jig just got simpler, now it's no more than a bench hook with a hole in it! The new version is an astonishing 85% smaller and  requires only one clamp to operate. The cello jig is made of 12mm ply, use 5mm ply for the violin version....

The New Years Files.

The New Years Files.

Here's a quick shout about Nicholson flat files.I buy two new files at the beginning of the year at a total cost of about $15. The larger file has a course and a fine side so I'm essentially getting three files. The cost for equivalent Grobet files that I...

Occam’s scroll holding jig

Occam’s scroll holding jig

Holding a violin scroll while carving the volutes and dressing the pegbox is a little awkward.  Here is one of the simplest and most effective jigs that I've come up with: a piece, 12mm ply with 30mm holes in it.   Use a soft piece of ply and round the edges of the...

Kerfed end block counter forms

Kerfed end block counter forms

When clamping the ribs at the lower block there is a tendency for the counter form to push the ribs apart, turning what should be a close fitting joint into an embarrassing gap. This is especially true if the counter-form has a smaller radius than the end block. The...